Orlando Magic continues to rise in the standings with win over Charlotte Hornets: Cole Anthony provides a spark

Cole Anthony provided a huge offensive spark off the bench in this game which allowed the Orlando Magic to defeat the Charlotte Hornets 112-92 at Kia Center.

The Magic are one of the youngest teams in the NBA yet they are finding tons of success this season. Led by All-Star Paolo Banchero and sidekick Franz Wagner, this squad looks like it will make the playoffs for the first time since the 2019-20 season. This team is finding success early and at this rate, they will be a lock for the postseason for years to come.

4th-year guard Cole Anthony led the team in scoring tonight with 21 points on 75% shooting off the bench. Jalen Suggs recorded 16 points, 6 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks while Paolo Banchero shot an efficient 6/7 from the field for 13 points. Franz Wagner finished with 11 points while his brother, Moe Wagner, scored 13 points off the bench.

Brandon Miller led his team with 21 points and 7 boards while hitting 4 three pointers. Vasilije Micic scored 20 points on 80% shooting while Miles Bridges finished with 16 points. Tre Mann had 11 points in his 29 minutes.

Orlando improves to 41-28 with this win and now sit just 0.5 games behind the Knicks for the 4th seed in the East. This was a huge victory for the Magic as they are looking to land a top 4 spot in order to host a round 1 playoff series. This team is rolling at the moment, winning 4 games in a row and going 8-2 over their last 10 matchups. Their next game will be on Thursday against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Charlotte drops to 17-52 with this loss and have now lost 3 games in a row. It has been another disappointing season for the Hornets and they are preparing for the off-season when they can get star LaMelo Ball fully healthy while adding another young prospect alongside him. They are 2-8 over their last 10 games and will face off against the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday.